Which lifestyle or body factor is listed as increasing female infertility risk?

• A. Increased body weight.
• B. Regular aerobic exercise.
• C. Adequate hydration.
• D. High protein diet.

Answer: (A)

Body weight influences the hormones that regulate ovulation. Excess body weight raises estrogen levels produced by fat tissue and often goes along with insulin resistance and inflammation. These hormonal changes can disrupt the normal ovulatory cycle, leading to irregular periods or absence of ovulation, which directly lowers the chance of conception. Maintaining a healthy weight tends to restore regular ovulation and improve fertility, while substantial weight loss or very low weight can also impair fertility, so balance is key.

Regular aerobic exercise supports fertility by helping achieve and maintain a healthy weight and improving metabolic health. Hydration is essential for general health but doesn’t by itself increase infertility risk, and a high-protein diet, on its own, isn’t a direct infertility risk unless it leads to overall poor caloric intake or nutrient imbalance. The factor that increases infertility risk in this context is increased body weight.